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Published on: February 26, 2014
Input, retention, and output factors affecting adult age differences in visuospatial short-term memory
Alan A Hartley1, Deborah M Little, Nicole K Speer
1Department of Psychology, Scripps College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA. alan.hartley@scrippscollege.edu
Objectives:
The sources of age differences in short-term memory for spatial locations were explored in 2 experiments that examined factors related to input, to maintenance, and to output.
Method:
In each experiment, 4 dots were presented briefly, followed after a retention interval by a probe dot, which was judged to either match or not match one of the 4 memory-set dots.
Results And Discussion:
Results showed that poorer performance by older adults could be attributed independently to reduced visual acuity, to less effective use of rehearsal strategies, and to differences in response biases.
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